Epstein described the sittings in some detail in his autobiography, giving a vivid description of the brooding, lonely man who said that he was 'played out'. Mrs Conrad 'gave one glance and fled' at the sight of the finished bust, but her husband clearly approved of it, writing 'The bust has grown truly monumental. It is a marvellously effective piece of sculpture. It is wonderful to go down to posterity like that.'